Middle School Green Oasis Adventure

Middle School Grade Project 4 weeks

Middle School Green Oasis Adventure

Suzanne M

3C.3a

3C.3b

2C.3b

2A.3b

1B.3a

+ 5 more

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Purpose

The project aims to transform a middle school space into an inclusive, sensory-rich green environment that caters to students with complex special education needs. By engaging students in hands-on activities and collaboration with community experts, the project fosters real-world learning while addressing civic and ecological needs. Through this integrated experience, students will deepen their understanding of nature, develop essential teamwork and communication skills, and cultivate a sense of belonging and responsibility towards their environment.

Learning goals

The learning goals for this project include fostering students' ability to engage collaboratively in transforming their environment through the creation of a sensory garden. Students will develop content expertise by integrating scientific and mathematical concepts in the planning and execution of the garden, such as understanding soil health and optimizing plant layout. Critical thinking skills will be enhanced as students tackle the question of how plants can create a calming space while respecting diverse perspectives. Students will build self-directed learning competencies through reflective practices and guided feedback sessions, all while practicing respectful curiosity to understand community needs and promoting collective well-being.

Standards

[New York] 3C.3a - Participate in civic experiences such as community service to address identified needs in their school, including those rooted in bias and injustice, and reflect on their efforts.
[New York] 3C.3b - Participate in civic experiences such as community service to address identified needs in their community, including those rooted in bias and injustice, and reflect on their efforts.
[New York] 2C.3b - Demonstrate cooperation and teamwork to promote group wellbeing and collective efficacy.
[New York] 2A.3b - Practice respectful curiosity to better understand others’ lived experiences.
[New York] 1B.3a - Develop a plan and prioritize steps in working toward a goal.

Competencies

Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.

Products

Students will create a detailed sensory garden map, guiding visitors through different zones of the garden dedicated to sensory experiences. They will develop engaging plant care guides complete with QR codes linking to instructional videos. Additionally, students will compile "Sensory Poetry" inspired by their experiences, which will be part of an art installation in the garden. A digital presentation documenting the garden's transformation and a short documentary film capturing the entire project journey will be produced to share with the school and community at the Garden Showcase event.

Launch

Start with a collaborative 'Sensory Journey Mapping' activity where students explore the current green space and identify potential zones for sensory experiences. With guided support from horticultural experts, they can brainstorm ideas for enhancing the space's impact using various plants and natural elements. During this session, students will document their initial thoughts and ideas in their Reflection Garden Journals, laying the foundation for their project journey.

Exhibition

At the conclusion of the project, host a community-wide exhibition event celebrating the new green space. Invite students to offer guided tours, using their sensory garden maps to showcase different zones and the calming impact of each area. Feature a digital presentation of the garden's transformation, including interviews and reflections, alongside an art installation displaying students' "Sensory Poetry." Present the short documentary film that captures the project's journey, collaboration, and learning, as the centerpiece of the Garden Showcase event, ensuring community engagement and awareness of the students' achievements in creating a tranquil environment.

Rubric

Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric

Category	Learning Goal	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies	Self Directed Learning	I can explore different ways to enhance our school’s green space by asking thoughtful questions about how plants can benefit everyone in our community I use my Reflection Garden Journal to jot down my ideas and reflect on how they address the needs of my classmates and neighbors.	I can follow a guided plan and complete most steps to contribute to the creation of our sensory garden, and with some help, I use feedback from teachers and classmates to reflect on my work and make improvements.	I can actively reflect on my contributions to enhancing our school's green space by documenting my progress and challenges in my Reflection Garden Journal I can set clear, achievable goals to improve my skills and knowledge, seek and incorporate feedback from peers and experts, and show curiosity and respect in understanding the diverse needs of our community.	I proactively set personal goals and craft detailed action plans aligned with the project's objectives, demonstrating initiative and adaptability I thoughtfully incorporate feedback from peers and mentors into my Reflection Garden Journal, using it to refine my strategies and deepen my understanding of civic needs Through mindful teamwork, I foster a supportive environment that values diverse perspectives and enhances group wellbeing, actively seeking out opportunities to understand and address community challenges with respect and empathy.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Collaboration	I actively listen to my teammates during group activities, sharing my ideas clearly and asking questions to better understand their perspectives.	I can work with my team to create a sensory garden plan, where I share my ideas and listen to others respectfully I can participate in group activities and make sure everyone's voice is heard I try different team roles and make decisions together with my classmates to improve the green space for everyone at our school.	I collaborate effectively with my peers by contributing my ideas and listening to others during planning sessions, ensuring that everyone's perspective is included I actively engage in community service projects by participating in the transformation of our school's green space and reflecting on the impact of our work I show that I understand teamwork is about making sure everyone feels valued, and I respect different viewpoints by asking questions and learning about what others think and feel.	I can effectively collaborate with my peers to design and transform our sensory garden, ensuring that everyone's ideas are respected and integrated into the project I participate actively in group planning sessions, contribute thoughtful insights, and help resolve any conflicts that arise, all while demonstrating care for our community's needs and reflecting on our shared experiences to improve our work.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Content Expertise	I can begin to identify ways plants and natural elements can create sensory experiences in a garden by observing my surroundings and asking questions I can work with peers to brainstorm ideas and share my initial thoughts in my Reflection Garden Journal.	I can apply my understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts to help design part of the sensory garden, using feedback to improve my plans and contribute to the team's efforts I show curiosity and respect by listening to community members' ideas and considering them in our project, ensuring our garden meets everyone's needs.	I can thoughtfully apply my knowledge of plants and ecosystems by designing a section of the sensory garden that caters to diverse needs, using feedback from my peers and community members to enhance my initial ideas I can clearly explain how my choices support the wellbeing of the garden visitors and reflect on how contributing to this project benefits our school and community.	I can expertly design and execute a comprehensive sensory garden map that integrates scientific and mathematical concepts like soil health and plant layout I thoughtfully participate in community service, addressing civic needs and promoting wellbeing while respecting diverse perspectives I reflect on our efforts and validate community impact through engaging plant care guides and innovative presentations that showcase our collaboration and transformation journey.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Critical Thinking & Problem Solving	I can identify a basic need in our school community that our sensory garden can address, and with guidance, I consider different ideas for the garden while practicing respect for my classmates' suggestions I use simple strategies with teacher support to solve problems that come up, such as deciding which plants might thrive in our space, and reflect on the changes we are making together.	I can identify some ways plants can improve our sensory experience and describe how these ideas can meet our school's needs, even if I need a little help to explain my thoughts clearly I can work with others to plan basic steps for transforming our green space, making sure to listen to my classmates' ideas and share my own respectfully, while starting to understand different points of view in our community.	I can creatively solve problems by exploring different ways plants can contribute to a calming green space, and I actively listen to understand others' ideas I use my curiosity to learn about the needs of our community, and I reflect on how our sensory garden project helps address these needs I work well with my team, contributing ideas and respecting different viewpoints to make sure we achieve our goals together.	I can creatively solve problems by considering diverse perspectives and developing innovative approaches to transform our green space into a calming sensory garden, while actively collaborating with my peers and community members to ensure the project meets the needs of all users I can reflect on our collective civic efforts and make adjustments based on feedback to ensure our work addresses bias, promotes inclusion, and respects diverse lived experiences.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Academic Mindset	I can start to participate in group activities to explore how we can improve our school's green space, showing curiosity by asking questions to understand different perspectives and beginning to plan how we'll work together to achieve our goal.	I express my understanding of creating a sensory garden by participating in planned activities with my team, listening to classmates’ ideas respectfully, and asking questions to learn more about the different needs in our community I can share my thoughts on how plants create calming spaces and consider others' perspectives when planning the garden design.	I can thoughtfully contribute to transforming our school space by collaborating with my peers and community experts, using feedback to guide our project development, and reflecting on how our garden design supports both ecological health and inclusivity.	I actively collaborate with community experts and peers to transform our school environment into a sensory-rich green space that serves all students, including those with special needs By planning and prioritizing my actions, I demonstrate teamwork and leadership to ensure our garden addresses civic and ecological needs I engage thoughtfully with diverse perspectives and document our efforts through a digital presentation and garden showcase, reflecting on how our collective work can create a more inclusive and calming space.

Learning Journey

Empathize

Students will engage in sensory visits to green spaces, participate in empathy interviews with community partners and peers, and record observations in their Reflection Garden Journals to understand diverse needs and challenges in cultivating calming environments.

Days 1 - 4